The Perfect Murder?

I am happy to introduce my friend and fellow author Elizabeth Heiter. I had a chance to read her new book HUNTED, and suspense lovers out there are in for a treat! Please welcome Elizabeth, who is here today with a behind-the-scenes look at her new novel. –Laura Griffin

Is there such a thing as the perfect murder?

As a suspense writer, I like the idea of a (fictional!) killer who’s too good. Someone who thinks he can stage the perfect murder.

Most crimes are solved by good, solid police work. There’s a standard trail – motive, means, and opportunity. But what happens if that trail fails? What if the killer chooses random victims he doesn’t know? What if he’s skilled in forensic countermeasures?

What happens if there’s no obvious trail to follow? There are no witnesses. Interviews lead nowhere. Physical evidence is nonexistent. Is it a perfect murder, a case destined to go cold?

Maybe.

Or maybe the police call in a criminal investigative analyst (commonly called a profiler).

A profiler is a professional, usually someone with degrees in fields like psychology and criminology, who can look at a crime scene and unravel the behavioral evidence – which basically means she can get inside the killer’s head. She knows what he’s thinking from the way the body was or wasn’t staged, from the elements of the crime itself, from the location and victim choice.

This field fascinates me (as you can probably tell from the picture of me with some of the research books I read prior to creating my own profiler for my debut suspense, HUNTED). How do you think like a killer? And what does that do to you, case after case?

For my purposes, I was creating an FBI profiler. Before she could even enter that field, she had to become a regular Special Agent. So, while I was getting into the nitty gritty of profiling, I also needed to learn FBI protocol, SA (Special Agent) slang, and how to shoot a weapon. To do that meant more research. Books provided a base knowledge, but interviews with current and former FBI agents filled in the details. And having an SA read my debut for accuracy gave me even more insight.

Once I had the FBI basics down, I started looking at cases profilers would tackle. I dug into real, solved cases, following exactly how real profilers went from UNSUB (unknown subject) to arrest. Then, I looked at current, unsolved cases and tried my hand at writing my own profiles. A few of those cases were solved during my research time and I could compare my “profile” to the real result – happily, I found they matched pretty well, telling me there was something to this.

Mostly, I learned to look at every piece of a crime and ask myself, “Why?” Why this victim? Why this signature? Why this location? Why this manner of death? Why, why, why? Once you add up all the “Whys,” that should lead you to the most important answer: “Who.”

At the end of it all, I decided there’s no such thing as a perfect murder, just an imperfect investigation. And behavioral analysis is definitely a key tool in catching a killer who’s “too good.”

To learn more about my debut suspense novel, HUNTED, about an FBI profiler who chases a serial killer with a track record of being “uncatchable,” visit my website at www.elizabethheiter.com.

(An advanced copy of HUNTED – before it hits stores! – will be given to one commenter!)

What a timely post, I was just listening to the news yesterday where a couple was caught who killed a stranger just for kicks. I didn’t catch the details on how they were caught, but initially it seems like the perfect setup, to kill someone you don’t know for seemingly no motive.

Hi Anne,
I saw that news story, too – I’m glad they were caught!
Thank you for the congrats! Writing (and researching) Hunted was so interesting – I’m always intrigued by what makes people tick, from the heroines to the villains!

Aw, thank you, B.J.! The research is just fun — and you can probably tell FBI is my favorite topic. 😉 I’m so intrigued by it I’ve actually had a few SAs (current and former) suggest I’d be good at the job myself! (To which I always reply, “But would they let me write books about them then?”)

I have a bunch of those books as well. My next December book is about a serial killer, a profiler and a US marshal. Loved the research. Fascinating stuff. I’m more surprised their aren’t more serial killers. 🙂

It’s intriguing to get into the head of someone who thinks so differently from you…I could read profiling books all day and never get bored (although maybe just a tad more likely to invest in additional locks!). Thanks, Kendra! 🙂

Hi Elizabeth! That’s quite a stack of books you have there. I love learning about the research that goes into writing a book. And from the looks of it, you’ve done your homework. 🙂 Can’t wait for Hunted!!

It is quite high, isn’t it? I didn’t cheat either – I only pulled ones from the shelf that I used for this particular book, not any of the books that come after it! I might enjoy the research too much…this is the best kind of homework! Thanks so much for your support, Barb!

I love the sound of this book. And it sounds like you did your research and then some to make sure everything was correct. I love when authors put in that little extra work like that. Your description of your book made me think of Criminal Minds. I can’t wait to read your book. I hope your debut of it goes really well!

Thank you, Debra! Well, I’ve talked to agents several ways. I have a friend who’s in the Bureau, so he’s read my books for accuracy. I’ve attended several writer’s conferences where current or former agents were presenting and asked questions. (And the Kiss of Death chapter visited Quantico a few years back.) I also have a number of friends who work in interesting jobs that require security clearances, so I’ve been interviewed as part of that process by several people who were former FBI. And I always keep cards if anyone says I can contact them again with questions. The local field office public relations department is also sometimes willing to answer questions if you let them know you’re a writer. Hope this helps!

Can’t wait to read it! I knew from the moment I saw your coffee shop writing process, your hard work would bring you fantastic success. As always, I’m inspired by all you’ve accomplished with talent and determination. <3 Btw… I want to buy my copy at a book signing, since I've never done that for any author yet.

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Bio:

Allison Brennan

Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly three dozen romantic thrillers and mysteries, including the Lucy Kincaid series and the Max Revere series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.